A bill that aimed to honor the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk with a specialty Arizona license plate that would have also raised money for his organization has been vetoed by the state’s governor.
The commemorative license plate was approved by the legislature last month and was intended to memorialize Kirk’s life and work.
Funds acquired through the specialty license plates would have partially supported the nonprofit organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA), which Kirk founded in 2012.
“We resolve our political differences at the ballot box,” Hobbs wrote. “No matter who it targets, political violence puts us all in harm’s way and damages our sacred democratic institutions.
“I will continue working toward solutions that bring people together, but this Bill falls short of that standard by inserting politics into a function of government that should remain nonpartisan.”
TPUSA, which advocates for conservative politics on high school, college, and university campuses, did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.
Hoffman also did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication, but in a statement, he condemned Hobbs for vetoing SB1439 and accused her of being hypocritical.
“It’s absolutely absurd for Hobbs to suddenly claim that honoring someone through a state recognition is ‘too political,’” Hoffman said. “Arizona already offers dozens of specialty license plates representing various causes and organizations, all available on a voluntary basis for drivers who wish to support them.”
There is still a chance that Kirk will be memorialized statewide with Bill SB1010, which was proposed by Arizona’s Republican Senate President Warren Petersen.
Also known as the Charlie Kirk Highway Bill, SB1010 would formally designate Loop 202 as the “Charlie Kirk Loop 202.”
Loop 202 spans approximately 77 miles across the Phoenix metropolitan area.
If approved by both chambers of the Arizona legislature and signed by Hobbs, the bill would require the Charlie Kirk Loop 202 designation to be reflected in official state records, documentation, and roadway signage.
No specific date has been publicly scheduled for a final floor vote.